Northeast Louisiana Bar Foundation, Inc.

​We are a 501 (c)(3) established to operate a pro bono legal program in civil law matters in 14 parishes in Northeast Louisiana.  We have been funded with a grant from the Louisiana Bar Foundation.  Our ideal is to serve those people in these parishes earning no more than twice the federal poverty level income.  

What NELA Bar Foundation Does

The Northeast Louisiana Bar Foundation hosts a free Ask-A-Lawyer clinic staffed with volunteer attorneys each month at various "community centers" in and around Monroe, LA. This event is open to the public, and volunteer attorneys meet with clients for individual, one-on-one legal advice. In a two-hour period, we hope to consult and advise an average of 20 to 30 people per event. Without this service, these individuals would not have the opportunity to speak with an attorney and obtain advice about the resolution of their legal issues.

Pro bono service is essential to ensuring that all people can access justice in Louisiana, where the number of people eligible for free legal services outnumbers legal aid attorneys by an enormous 11,250 to one. This means that while legal aid providers serve thousands of people each year, they cannot serve everyone who cannot afford an attorney. 
 
The NELA Bar Foundation operates the Pro Bono Project (PBP) in 14 parishes surrounding Ouachita Parish (Northeast Louisiana Pro Bono Project). The Pro Bono Project provides free legal assistance by volunteer attorneys in civil matters for qualified indigent and low-income residents. Lawyers in private practice volunteer through the Pro Bono Project to offer advice on problems that you may otherwise not receive the proper advice on.